Box cover



Aug- 5, 1958` A. M. #COTE 2,846,130

Box COVER Filed oct. 1s, 1955 8 "A//n M. Foote i I INENTR.

Ammqs United States Patent O BOX COVER Allen M. Foote, Hendersonville, N. C. I Application October 18, 1955, Serial No. 541,116 1 Claim. (Cl. 229-7) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in covers, particularly for cereal, soap, etc., boxes, and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a slidable `closure which may be readily mounted on the tops of such containers for closing and concealing the usual pouring openings which are cut or torn therein.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a slidable cover of the aforementioned character which may be mounted for use on various sizes of boxes.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a slidable box cover or closure of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying ydrawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing a cover c0nstructed in accordance with the present invention in closed position on a box top;

Figure 2 is a bottom perspective view of the device;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional View, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Refen'ing now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been i1- lustrated comprises a substantially rectangular plate 5 of suitable material, preferably plastic, which is adapted to be mounted for longitudinal sliding movement on the top 6 of a conventional box 7. The plate 5, which may be of any desired dimensions, is provided on its longitudinal edges with depending guide anges 8 which slidably receive the box 7 therebetween. The plate 5 is provided with suitable instructions, or other matter, as indicated at 9.

Mounted longitudinally beneath the plate 5 is a resilient tongue or clip 10 which also is preferably of plastic. One end portion 11 of the clip 10 is alxed to the plate 5 with a small spacer and stop 16 therebetween. Depending from this end portion of the clip 10, directly below the element 16, is a stop flange 12 which, as illustrated to yadvantage in Figure 3 of the drawing, is spaced inwardly a short distance from the adjacent end of the plate 5. The resilient clip 10 further comprises an upwardly bowed free end portion 13 which is frictionally engageable beneath the box top 6. Fixed transversely beneath the adjacent end portion of the plate 5 is a rounded bar or rib 14 which is slidable on the box ICC top 5 and cooperable with the clip 10 for frictionally securing the cover in adjusted position.

It is thought that the operation or use of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, one end portion of the box top 6 is cut or torn for providing a pouring opening. However, the closure iiap which is usually left is removed, leaving only the opening. The plate 5 is then mounted on the box top with the resilient tongue or clip 10 engaged therebeneath. To uncover the pouring opening, the plate 5 is moved from right to left as viewed in Figure l of the drawing. The construction and arrangement of the elements 10, 13, 14 etc., is such as to distort y,the box top 6 and firmly grip same for securing the cover in any desired position. As the plate 5 approaches its open position, the box top 6 is wedged and rmly gripped between said plate and the fixed end portion of the resilient clip 10, this constituting an important and desirable feature of the invention. When the plate 5 reaches its fully open position it is positively arrested by the spacer-stop 16 engaging the torn edge of the box top, leaving only a very small end portion of said plate protruding over and obstructing the opening in said top. The frictional grip of the device on the box top 6 is sufficient to secure the cover in any position at all times. To close the cover, the plate 5 is slid toward the adjacent end 15 of the box 7 for covering and completely concealing the pouring opening in the top 6. Sliding movement of the cover to closed position is arrested by the stop 12 engaging the end wall 15 with the adjacent end portion of the plate 5 projecting a slight distance over said end wall. The upwardly bowed portion 13 of the clip 10, coacting with the bar or rib 14, causes the plate 5 to continuously press downwardly on the top of the box in all directions which constitutes another important and desirable feature of the invention.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

For use with a box including a wall and an elongated top having a pouring Iopening adjacent the wall, a removable cover comprising an elongated imperforate plate for closing the opening and for sliding movement longitudinally inwardly on the top for exposing the opening, guide anges depending from the plate for slidably embracing the box therebetween, a resilient clip xed beneath one end portion of the plate for engagement beneath the t-op through the opening for frictionally securing said plate in adjusted position, and a stop depending from said one end portion of said plate for operation in the box for engagement with the inner face of the end wall for arresting the plate when said plate is moved to its closed position over the opening.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,083,153 Strodel Dec. 30, 1913 2,030,134 Bergener Feb. 11, 1936 2,133,651 Baker Oct. 18, 1938 2,255,225 Meggy Sept. 9, 1941 2,489,452 Davis Nov. 29, 1949 2,781,156 Wallo Feb. 12, 1957 

